Position: |
Partner |
Department: |
Licensing |
Email: |
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Telephone No: |
+44 20 7468 1505 |
Downloadable vCard: |
Published Articles
- Naming the Driver
- Abandoning Your Vehicle
- Police to test drivers for drugs after the home office approves kit for use in stations
- New offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving
- Scottish Parliament votes to cut the drink-drive limit
- The Live Music Act (‘LMA’)
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Philip Somarakis
Philip Somarakis graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1991 with an Honours degree in Law. He trained at Oxford Magistrates Court and qualified in 1996. Philip was Partner at Blake Lapthorn before joining Davenport Lyons as a Partner in 2012.
Philip’s practice focuses on the areas of alcohol and entertainment licensing law motoring offences and business regulatory. He is recognised in Chambers Directory as an expert Motoring Offences Lawyer, securing acquittals in both speeding and drink driving cases. He also has expertise in Driving Licence Medical Appeals and has successfully challenged decisions of the DVLA to refuse driving licence applications or revoke driving licences on medical grounds. Philip also specialises in licensing matters having appeared in over 100 contested hearings before Council Licensing Committees. He is currently head of the Driving Offences Team.
Recent experience includes:
Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing
- Acting for a licence holder in London whose licence faced a summary review by the police following a serious incident of disorder. Negotiating an agreed voluntary closure on terms pending a full police investigation, thus avoiding a suspension of the premises licence.
- Acting for a national restaurant chain in relation to the acquisition of new sites, variations to hours and conditions on the premises licence.
- Advising a supermarket/convenience store chain and obtaining new premises licences on its behalf.
- Advising a country estate with a guest centre on its licensing issues.
- Providing initial advice to a client on the process of obtaining Sex Encounter Venue Licences from Westminster City Council.
Motoring Offences
- Representing a motorist charged with drink driving who was acquitted at trial. Acting for a client who was acquitted of speeding.
- Acting for a diabetic whose driving licence application was refused/revoked on renewal, due to two disclosed night time diabetic attacks.
- Acting for a man who faced two prosecutions for failing to name the driver.
- Successfully defending a motorist prosecuted for drink driving on an access road in a business park.
Philip has appeared on BBC Watchdog discussing driving offences and has lectured extensively on the Bribery Act, including to members of the CBI, Chamber of Commerce and a Premier and Championship Football Clubs. Philip has been Secretary to the Southern Region of ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators) and is now Company Secretary. He has given many presentations on Managing On-Road Risk and the impact of the Corporate Manslaughter Act.
Philip is married with two children. Outside of work Philip has run six marathons including Athens and London. His best time so far is 3’38! He has undertaken several feats of daring to raise money for charities, including holding a venomous tarantula (Philip hates spiders!) and scaling Crib Goch in Snowdonia. He has successfully completed Trailwalkers, The Three Peaks and Caldeonian Challenges.
